The school was developed around that concept, and its academic calendar therefore begins in mid-April and ends in mid-November.
The Winter Sports School's academic program is centered on preparing its students for college.
The Winter Sports School is notable and unique from other ski and sports academy in the United States in that their coaching staff provides group summer conditioning only – the students do not compete as school teams during the winter competitive season itself.
The 2011 Winter X Games saw Alex Schlopy '09 take the gold medal in the men's Skiing Big Air event.
In the 2011 FIS Freestyle Skiing World Championships Alex Schlopy took the gold medal in the men's Slopestyle event.